The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-07-15

count meanwhile standing at her side
scanning her face with pride and eager
ness in his own. Finally he exclaimed:
Eh bieH! And what Is II t-at you
will say in regard to that portrait:
1t i exquisitely lovely, said Mari
ana still looking at the portrait
a. N'eSt-ce pds'" he cried. forgetting his
English, and then with a truly French
gesture he added d" All, madenOlsclIe'
il j. the lady OF my heart.
Mariana had an open heart for love
story, and in few words of corilal In
terest drew out that of De Roch fuusin-
The young lady who, strange - say
was, like herself named Mary Robinson,
had been for 4 year in Paris. The Count
had a few months ago offered his hand
to her in marriage
Shr w..s willing to give 1t, but on writ
in, 70 her parents in America they MADE
strong objections ns-apparcHtly for the
sole reason that he was a foreigner.
Several letters had passed back and
forth with no satisfactory result, and h6
had finally determined to go TO America
and plead his own cause.
He had been obliged TO go to his cha
teau in Normandy for several weeks be
fore embarking. and Miss Robinson had
joined friends with whom she was TO
travel.
II seemed to be a great afiiction to
him that he could not know her exact
whereabouts. The plans of the people
with whom she was to travel were not
fully made. and all his letters had to be
addressed TO her Paris bankers and for
warded by them.
father knew that he was coming to
America.
"Ah, no, mademoiselle, II is a secret
most profound. / am informed that he
Is a gentleman OF slightly eccentric tenn
per, and it would not be best to excite
him beforehand. More than that. he
might see fit to be away from home. he
resides in New York"
Seeing the man as she did every day
and all day long. Mariana had fine op-
portunity of studying his character He
seemed to her a high-bred, cultivated
gentleman, of singular simplicity and
honesty of character, and that he was
thoroughly in love was beyond question
Having formed this opinion OF the
man. and being strongly Interested in his
mission TO America, Mariana determined
10 do all in her power to favor II.
When the AbySsinia anchored in New
York harbOr Count de ROchefOntln pro-
posed that she should wait on the steam
er while the tugbOat made its first trip
to the dock. and he would go and find
her father. and bring him back with him
to the steamer. In that way she would
have a chance for little quiet talk alone
on first seeing him, instead of meeting
him in all the noise and confusion OF the
dock and Custom House
Count de RoChefontin, on landing from
the tug. stationed himself near the line
of waiting friends, watching them mar
rowIy for Mr.. Robinson.
His ewes soon fell upon q stout elderly
gentleman in light gray clothes He
wore heavy gray mUstache, and had an
important, busineSS-like air.
He was evidently on the alert to see
Tf.a
ming 10 knit his heavy eyebrows and
grow very red when, the tug having
landed all her passengers, the person he
expected did not appear.
The second officer OF the Abyssinia had
landed, and De Rochefontin heard the
old gentleman say to him:
Young lady by the name Of Robinson
on the boat sirY'
This was enough. De Rochefontin
advanced; and, as Mariana had told him
that her father did not understand
French, said, in the best English he
could command, bowling very low as he
spoke:
ALLOW me, monsieur. Mademoiselle,
your daughter, remains upon re ship"
" Heh?" The old gentleman glared
rather fiercely at De Rochefontin, who
bowed cOurteously and remarked:
Miss Robinson waits for YOU on the
ship, monsieur. She is slightly discom-
posed at the prospect of seeing you"
" Oh, she Is, Interrupted the other.
"WeIl, / should thing she ought TO be :"
and he laughed with deep and not very
mirthful "haw, haw, haw."
The tug was now ready to return to
the steamer. and the two gentlemen
stepped aboard.
Who are you, anyhow, sir?" asked
Mr.. Robinson, facing about abruptly
upon his companion.
De Rochefontin handed him his card.
The old gentleman grew very red and
exclaimed:
Theodore de Rochefontinl What,
you are the man who wants to marry my
daughter"
"Ah no. monsieur, pardon me, 1 hat
not that honor. Mademoiselle, your
daughter, is young lady very amiabIe.
1 admire. oh, very well; but nv heart.
monsieur. he belongs to another" and
De ROchefontin bowed again.
- II does: Then what in the name
OF wonder are you travelling around with
my daughter for, sir? 1 demand an ex-
planatiOnr y
.. I make the journey with mademoi-
SeIle simply as cOmpGgnOn de UoyGge'
Now, see here young man, your name
IS Theodore de Rochefontin, and you
belong to the Bourbon 1loJLesse what
ever that is, and own a chateau in Nor
mandy, don't you? and you're the soul
OF honor and chivalry, aren't you? Hold
OH btlltNt L We got Ine inventory OF
your attractions right here" and he
began taking handful of letters out of
his pocket.
Mas, Tlonsie,Tt-that affair becomes
now hopeless; let US, de bon,le grace
pray you, advise mademoiselle your
daughter with IT,"
They now stepped on board the Abys-
sinia. Mariana was waiting for them on
deck, pale and anxious.
VOici FJlOnSierlrr-rnadamOiS Nour
daughter, will make right all that affair d"
My daughter" exclaimed the old
gentleman, staring at Mariana. Never
saw the young lady in my life -
This is not my father. said Mariana.
M name is Robinson" " declared the
old gentleman. james Robinson, of
| the firm of Robinson and Sharpe, wool
brokers, New York City"
And mine is Mariana Robinson, of
Mamaroneck," exclaimed the girl NV
fathers name is Joseph Robinson; he is
q lawyer"
Know him well-know him well, 4"
said Mr.. Robinson cheerfully, but I
didn't see him on the dock"
- received n telegram from him two
weeks ago telling me to come home by
this steamer. l cannot understand his
not meeting me-"
You received that telegram! How
| in the world did that happen2 l sent Ii
/ to Drexels, in Paris, to be forwarded TO
Mary. She was to keep them informed
of her movements"
They must have expected her to be
at the Hotel Victoria, in Baden. the 9Th
of June" said Mariana half sOrrowfully
" for they sent the dispatch there. and
as l was the only Mary Robinson at the
hotel. and as the dispatch was dated New
York-tather would of course 20 TO New
York to telegraph to mel never dreamed
OF its being for any one but me. So /
have taken this journey all for nothing -
=. Well well !" said Mr Robinson :. Ill